HVAC Technician License Requirements in Colorado
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- —
- Renewal cycle
- —
- Issuing board
- No state licensing authority for individual HVAC technicians or HVAC/mechanical contractors — the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), maintains statewide licensing programs for electricians and plumbers, but has no corresponding statewide program for HVAC, mechanical, or refrigeration contractors/technicians. HVAC licensing in Colorado is administered entirely by individual cities and counties (e.g., Denver Community Planning and Development issues Mechanical Certificates; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issues Mechanical Contractor licenses for the Colorado Springs area).
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No statewide age, education, or background-check prerequisite is published for HVAC technicians or contractors because Colorado does not license this occupation at the state level. Requirements for a local license (age, experience, exam, insurance) are set independently by each city or county. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. Colorado has no statewide HVAC technician or HVAC-contractor license, so there is no state-specified training-hour requirement. Local jurisdictions that license HVAC/mechanical work (e.g., Denver, Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak Regional, Aurora, Boulder) set their own experience and training prerequisites independently, and these are not standardized statewide. Note that HVAC work touching electrical or gas-piping/hydronic systems may separately require a state-issued Colorado electrician or plumber license from DORA/DPO for those specific portions of the work. [1]
- 3
Submit your application
Submit your application to No state licensing authority for individual HVAC technicians or HVAC/mechanical contractors — the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), maintains statewide licensing programs for electricians and plumbers, but has no corresponding statewide program for HVAC, mechanical, or refrigeration contractors/technicians. HVAC licensing in Colorado is administered entirely by individual cities and counties (e.g., Denver Community Planning and Development issues Mechanical Certificates; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issues Mechanical Contractor licenses for the Colorado Springs area).. [1]
- 4
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, No state licensing authority for individual HVAC technicians or HVAC/mechanical contractors — the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), maintains statewide licensing programs for electricians and plumbers, but has no corresponding statewide program for HVAC, mechanical, or refrigeration contractors/technicians. HVAC licensing in Colorado is administered entirely by individual cities and counties (e.g., Denver Community Planning and Development issues Mechanical Certificates; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issues Mechanical Contractor licenses for the Colorado Springs area). issues your No statewide license — regulated at the city/county level for Colorado.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
No statewide application, license, or renewal fee applies to HVAC technicians or contractors because Colorado does not license this occupation at the state level. Fees for a local municipal or county HVAC/mechanical license are set independently by each jurisdiction (for example, Denver charges $40 for a journeyman-level Mechanical Certificate and $60 for other classifications).
Renewal & continuing education
Renewal cycle not specified.
No statewide renewal cycle or continuing-education requirement applies to HVAC technicians or contractors because Colorado does not license them at the state level. Local jurisdictions that issue an HVAC/mechanical license set their own renewal cycles and CE requirements independently.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
No statewide reciprocity/endorsement process exists for HVAC technicians or contractors since there is no state-issued license to endorse into. Any reciprocity between municipal or county HVAC/mechanical licenses, if offered at all, would be negotiated between individual jurisdictions, not administered by DORA/DPO.
3 state-approved training providers in Colorado — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado issue a state HVAC license?
No. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies' Division of Professions and Occupations licenses electricians and plumbers statewide, but has no corresponding statewide program for HVAC, mechanical, or refrigeration work.
Who licenses HVAC technicians and contractors in Denver?
Denver Community Planning and Development issues local Mechanical Certificates and contractor licenses covering the City and County of Denver.
Where do I get an HVAC credential in Colorado Springs?
The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issues Mechanical Contractor licenses (Class A commercial, Class B residential, Class C specialty) and a Heating Mechanic IV / HVAC Service Technician credential covering the Colorado Springs region.
Do I still need a state license for parts of HVAC work in Colorado?
Possibly. Electrical work connected to HVAC systems generally requires a DORA-licensed Colorado electrician, and gas piping or hydronic work may require a DORA-licensed Colorado plumber, even though the HVAC work itself is only locally licensed.
Is there reciprocity between Colorado municipalities for HVAC licenses?
Not automatically. Because each Colorado city or county runs its own HVAC/mechanical licensing program, a license issued in one jurisdiction does not necessarily transfer to another; check with the specific local building department where you intend to work.
Sources
- [1] dpo.colorado.gov — accessed 2026-07-12